Can anyone explain in laymans terms why this has always been available for BMW for such a relatively low price but not for MINI? I had a friend with a 335i and boasted about how the juice box get him like 50hp to the wheels for $500. I have to admit I was pretty envious of 335 owners when he told me that.

 

So you have been communicating by phone with them?

 

Market is smaller, it's "mini" compared to the BMW side of things.

Edit: Actually the Mini AP was as expensive as the GTR AP.....ridiculous.

 

So it has nothing to do with the actual ECU? Its just a market thing? I guess coming from a Nissan Altima community its hard to imagine the MINI community as a small market segment. Oh well, that's what happens to new gen owners!

 

At the end of the day it is about making proper business decisions.

A company won't invest time and money trying to figure out the newest ECU's unless they see there is enough demand for it($$$$).

That might be the ultimate reason why Cobb discontinued the AP for the Mini.
The price of the Mini AP even shows proof that Cobb themselves assumed demand would be low in the Mini community, but they knew people would pay that price...especially with their reputation in the tuning world. On top of that they really had no competition in the Mini world of hand-held tuning options...so they could price the AP any amount they wanted.

If it were strong...many would still have that option, and it would be available to folks like me, with the newest ECU's.

 

I figure this was the case. As NewCooper had indicated I too believe MINI is a niche market and there isn't a huge demand for tuning since MINI's are known more for their frugalness on gas instead of having a huge enthusiast crowd following on the BMW side of things.

 

Same cycle as the last car I owned. High prices=small demand=few vendors=high prices-repeat.

I wonder what it would take on our end (realistically) in order for this to happen. A JB4 option for the MINI with BMW prices would be a tremendous success.

 

It would be nice for Cobb to release Accesstuner Race so we can tune our own cars. They do it for Subarus, but wont for the Mini.

 

Just a heads up. It seems as if Burger Motorsports has had a change of heart and has taken interest in the R56. They have working prototypes on a N18 car.
Check the thread here for updates.

 

This is very good news. Burger is a good company. We have installed many a Juicebox in BMWs to excellent effect. Looking at some of the inherent difficulties in flash tuning the N18, this is going to be the best (read: only) solution in the near term.

 

Throwing my hat in the ring.

Terry, you have my money if this gets released. I like much what you've done with the 35i platform.

If needed, I have a 07 S currently stock with plenty of bolts-ons ready sitting in the garage. I have Bavarian Technic and will offer logs if you need em'


BTW - I know you have some inside track with Cobb. I'm quite curious the politics that went down with the Mini platform. If there were problems with the N18, thats fine, but why the sudden bail on the whole gig? Doesn't really seem like them at all. I used them back in the day with my STi and it seems that they would be the last company to abandon a group like this. I'm curious if its something with Alta and their agreement.... One can ponder

 

FYI this is all being discussed ad nausea in the always-up-to-date tuning thread in this forum. BMS is creating a JB tune for the N18's and purchased an N18 MCS for their own R&D use.

 

There website only shows a tune for the N18 engine. if they make one for the N14 I will buy it in a heartbeat. anyone know if they plan on making one for the N14 engine?

 

Not that I'm aware of at this time

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Yeah i was checking that out on your website and i did have an interest. I am considering a catless downpipe but was thinking against it because of the check engine light. i live in washington so i have to go through emisions every two years but all they do is plug in to the OBD II sensor and check for codes. they dont do smog test. so my question to you would be does this CAN tool get rid of the check engine light caused by the catless DP? that a long with the bost gauge would definetley make me interested in this product. Also is it plug in play?